Excess Defense Articles (EDA)

EDA DataBase Tool:

Access the Database

This database contains authorization and transfer data, but no information on potential offers not yet been notified to Congress. Prior to notification to Congress, the decision to provide EDA is not yet final and disclosure of potential offers is not possible.

The following information on each notified transfer is available:

The recipient country, the item(s) to be transferred and the quantity of each, the implementing agency for each transfer (Army, Navy, Air Force, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), transfer via grant or sale, the notified acquisition value and current value of the equipment.  For grants, the current value is the value at which the equipment would be sold through FMS, if it was not being granted. The status of the transfer and the date of the latest status change.

Purpose of the Program:

Transfers excess defense equipment to foreign governments or international organizations.

Typically used for modernization of partner forces.

Excess defense articles provided to partner nation at a reduced price (based on the condition of the equipment) or as a grant.

Partner nations pay for packing, crating, handling, and transportation (PCH&T), as well as refurbishment if applicable – EDA is “as is, where is”.

Who:

The Military Departments identify excess equipment

Combatant Commands identify possible recipients to MILDEPS

DSCA facilitates coordination and approval of requests

The EDA Program and Bulletin Board:

Defense Security Cooperation Agency is responsible for administering the Department of Defense's Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program.

Working under authorities established in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act, defense articles declared as excess by the Military Departments can be offered to foreign governments or international organizations in support of U. S. national security and foreign policy objectives. Typically, EDA is transferred to support U. S. allies in their modernization efforts and to assist Latin American and Caribbean nations in their counter-narcotics programs.

In the 1993 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill (Report 102-408), a requirement was established to provide a publicly accessible clearinghouse for information concerning the transfers of EDA. Since that time, DSCA has maintained an electronic, dial-in bulletin board of EDA transfers approved under this program. The information has been converted to an Internet compatible format and can now be retrieved through this Website by clicking on the “Access the Database” link above.

Program Definitions:

Excess Defense Articles (EDA) are defined in the Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) as amended, section 644(g), as:

…the quantity of defense articles (other than construction equipment, including tractors, scrapers, loaders, graders, bulldozers, dump trucks, generators, and compressors) owned by the United States Government, and not procured in anticipation of military assistance or sales requirements, or pursuant to a military assistance or sales order, which is in excess of the Approved Force Acquisition Objective and Approved Force Retention Stock of all Department of Defense Components at the time such articles are dropped from inventory by the supplying agency for delivery to countries or international organizations under this Act.

The Military Departments determine what is or is not excess. Equipment which has been transferred from the Military Departments to the Defense Logistics Agency, Disposition Services, is also available for transfer through the EDA program if an eligible foreign government makes known its requirements for the equipment.

The Department of Defense is authorized by law to transfer Excess Defense Articles to foreign governments under the following authorities:

Section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, authorizes grant transfers of lethal and non-lethal EDA to countries which receipt of such articles were justified to Congress for the fiscal year in which the transfer is authorized.
EDA may also be sold to foreign countries under the normal FMS system authorized by the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). When EDA is sold, the price is a percentage of the original acquisition value, based on age and condition, and ranges from 5% to 50% of the original acquisition.

All grant recipients must sign agreements pursuant to Section 505 of the FAA agreeing to end-use restrictions and giving the U.S. first right to proceeds of any sale.